NHTSA Complaint #711766 — 1995 FORD EXPLORER

THE TEMPERATURE GUAGE STOPPED WORKING 12/98. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ASKED TO LOOK AT IT SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THEY SAID IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT...PROBABLY SOMETHING IN THE WIRING OF THE GUAGE, AND IT MAY BE EXPENSIVE TO FIND IT. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. THE TEMPERATURE GUAGE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN WORKING. WE COULD HAVE ENCOUNTERED A NUMBER OF SERIOUS PROBLEMS (SUCH AS OVERHEATING IN TEXAS IN THE SUMMER), BUT THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T CATCH IT. THEN, OUR LOCK ACTUATOR WENT OUT. BECAUSE IT WAS A REAR DOOR, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY DIDN'T COVER IT. WE PAID $188.16 TO FIX IT IN ADDITION TO THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. IF THE DEALER'S WARRANTY COVERS THE FRONT DOORS, IT SHOULD COVER THE REAR DOORS. THIS MAKES NO SENSE AND COST US A LOT OF MONEY OUT OF OUR POCKETS! WE ONLY HAVE 65,000 MILES ON OUR CAR.